Flush tank for a water closet having self contained washing means

ABSTRACT

A flush tank, having a vertically extending wall positioned between the two vertical side walls to provide a first chamber which is filled with flush water and a second chamber which houses a removable washing means, is disclosed. The washing means is operatively coupled to water supply for the toilet and includes manually operated valve means to regulate the flow of wash water to cleanse the toilet bowl as needed.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a flush tank for a water closet and, moreparticularly, to a flush tank having self-contained washing meansdisposed in chamber adjacent to the water-filled chamber of the flushtank.

Summary of the Invention

An object of this invention is to provide a flush tank which houses aremovable brush capable of delivering a stream of water, so that thecleaning operation of the corresponding toilet bowl is more practical,easier and faster and, at the same time, the same stream of water actsto keep the brush clean, with obvious advantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flush tank having astorage chamber which houses a built-in brush, which is ready for usewhen removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flush tank having abuilt-in brush which is concealed when not in use and, when stored, doesnot detract from the appearance of the flush tank.

These objects and other objects of the invention are attained in thecontext of a design solution which is simple and rational and which isinexpensive.

The washing means housed in the second chamber is preferably in the formof a brush and is supported by a hatch or a pivotally mounted wall sothat as the latter is opened, the brush, simultaneously, is ready foruse.

In addition, the brush has a longitudinal pipe which is open at one endinto the region of the brush where the cleaning filaments or bristlesare provided while, at the other end, it is connected to a flexible tubewhich, in turn, is connected to a water supply conduit, for example, thesame conduit which supplies water to the tank. The flexible tube ispreferably wound onto an automatic rewinding device, for example,accommodated in the hollow base of the water closet, such that the brushcan be carried to the desired point and, when the cleansing operation iscompleted, the tube is automatically pulled back onto the winding deviceafter the brush is replaced. Lastly, suitable valve means associatedwith the brush is provided, which is shiftable between its closed andopen positions to permit the flow of water to cleanse the bowl whenneeded.

It is generally contemplated, according to the invention, to provide aflush tank assembly which is mounted in fluid communication with theflush water inlet opening of a water closet. The flush tank isintegrally formed into two adjacent compartments; a first compartment tocontain the flush water, and a second compartment which houses theself-contained washing means and has a removable hatch or door, forexample, a pivotally mounted side wall of the flush tank which swingsoutward to provide easy access to the washing means when it is to beused.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The design characteristics and merits of the invention will be moreclearly explained in the course of the detailed description whichfollows, given with reference to the attached FIGURES in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view, in elevation, of a tank mounted to a toiletbowl, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, in elevation, illustrating the inventionhoused in a compartment of a flush tank; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2, in which the cover and brush havebeen removed and the pivotally mounted side wall concealing the brush isopen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The aforesaid FIGURES, especially FIG. 1, show a toilet bowl or watercloset 1 of the type equipped at the top with an attachment and asupport seat for flush tank 2. Tank 2 comprises a hollow body defined byvertical back and side walls and a front wall shaped, for example, inthree sections so that, in plan view, the flush tank is in the form of apentagon. An integrally formed vertical wall W provides a partition toseparated chambers 3 and 15. Flush tank 2 includes a first chamber 3 tocontain flush water 33, and a second chamber 15 to house washing meansor brush assembly B.. As illustrated in FIG. 2, flush tank 2 is open atthe top and has a cover 4 having a standard pushbutton or pull lever 5mounted therein which is coupled to a standard type flush valve 6. Flushtank 2 is provided with two through holes 7 which house bolts to mountthe latter to bowl 1. A central hole is provided with a union 8 whichcouples flush valve 6 to flush water opening, not shown, formed intoilet bowl 1 so that flush water 33 drains into the flange or flush rimof bowl 1.

An opening formed in the bottom wall of first chamber 3 is provided tomount water control assembly 9, the lower end of which is connected towater supply conduit 12, as shown in FIG. 1. Opening 10 formed in thebottom wall of chamber 15 is provided to mount flexible tube or hose 13to washing means B at one end thereof, and to water supply conduit 12 atits other end.

Water control assembly tube 9 is connected to T-shaped fitting 11forming part of water supply tube 12. The second outlet opening ofT-shaped fitting 11 is coupled to flexible tube 13, which is wound ontoan automatic rewinding device 14 housed in the hollow portion formed inthe rear of bowl 1, FIGS. 1 and 2.

Rewinding device 14 and the respective hydraulic connection to T-shapedfitting 11 and flexible tube 13 are not shown because they are ordinaryand easily understood by persons skilled in this art. Flexible tube 13,FIGS. 2 and 3, passes through opening 10 and enters chamber 15 in thebody of tank 2, and extends along wall W. The downstream end of flexibletube 13 is connected to the hollow handle of brush 16 which ends in ahollow cleaning element 17. The latter is equipped with a plurality oftufts 18 of filaments which are interspersed with cleaning waterdelivery holes 19. The flow of water directed to holes 19 is interruptedby a valve 20 which is equipped with an opening pushbutton 21, and whichis mounted to the upper end of the handle of brush 16.

Valve 20 has not been shown in detail since it is known in the art.

As illustrated, there is provided for brush 16 a container housing 22which is positioned against the lower edge of hatch or side wall 24 andimmovably mounted on bracket 23. Side wall 24 is hingedly mounted totank 2 by means of a vertical shaft 25 at the rear wall of tank 2, seeFIG. 3. Provided between housing 22, bracket 23 and hatch 24 is latchmeans 26 to retain housing 22 in position by a slight pressure.

Also, it should be noted, see FIGS. 2 and 3, that mounted on the upperpart of tank 2 is a small container 27, the bottom of which is locatedat a lever slightly lower than the maximum filling level of flush water33. Container 27 is designed to accommodate an ordinarydeodorant/cleansing product, and at the bottom of container 27 is atleast one opening to allow the water designed to dissolve said productto pass through, and to drain this water when chamber 3 empties.

It is claimed:
 1. A flush tank assembly which is adapted to be mountedin fluid commnication with the flush water inlet opening of a toiletbowl comprising:a flush tank having a vertically extending partitionwall positioned between the two vertical side walls of said tank to forma first chamber which houses a water control and flush valve assemblyand is adapted to discharge flush water into the toilet bowl, and asecond chamber which houses a removably mounted washing means; saidwashing means including a manually-operated valve means operativelycoupled to said washing means to control the flow of wash watertherethrough; and a flexible conduit coupled between said water inletsource and said washing means so that when said washing means is removedfrom said second chamber, wash water is manually regulated through saidwashing means to cleanse the toilet bowl as needed.
 2. The flush tankassembly, according to claim 1, wherein said washing means is a brushhaving a handle coupled to the brush, said handle and brush having awater passage formed therein and a manually-operated valve means mountedin said passage to control the flow of water therethrough.
 3. The flushtank assembly, according to claim 1, wherein said washing means includesa rewinding device mounted exteriorly from said second chamber andadjacent thereto, with said flexible tube being wound thereon, one endof said flexible tube coupled to the water inlet source and the otherend coupled to the washing means.
 4. The flush tank assembly, accordingto claim 1, wherein said side wall of the flush tank forming saidcompartment in hingedly mounted to its back wall to provide an accessopening to remove said washing means therefrom.
 5. The flush tankassembly, according to claim 4, wherein said hingedly mounted doorincludes support means to removably mount said washing means thereon sothat when said door is opened, said washing means is ready for removaland use.
 6. The flush tank assembly of claim 1 wherein said partitionwall is formed integral with said back and front walls of said tank.